E.A. Hanks Reveals Why Rita Wilson is More Than Just a Stepmom

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E.A. Hanks found a friend in stepmom Rita Wilson.

42-year-old, Tom Hanks’ only daughter from his former marriage with Susan Dillingham, delves into her tumultuous childhood experiences in her recently published memoir titled “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road”. Additionally, she reminisces about her strong relationship with her stepmother.

In an interview with People, Elizabeth Anne (E.A.) explained that when she mentions her parents, she’s actually referring to her father and Rita. This is because they’ve been a couple for as long as she can recall, dating back to when she was around 4 or 5 years old.

In 1981, Tom and Rita, both aged 68, crossed paths on the set of ABC’s “Bosom Buddies.” Their friendship blossomed into a relationship in 1986, a year after Tom finalized his divorce from Susan. After two romantic years, the pair known as the “Sleepless in Seattle” couple tied the knot in 1988. They later welcomed their sons, Chet Hanks, aged 34, and Truman Hanks, aged 29. Interestingly, Tom also has a son named Colin Hanks, who is 47 years old. This child was born during his relationship with his former spouse, who went by the stage name Samantha Lewes.

Because Rita has played a significant role throughout much of her life, E.A. pointed out that “Rita isn’t just a stepmother, but more like a second mother to me.

That’s also her mindset when it comes to delineating her relationship with Chet and Truman.

She mentioned that she’s never really called them her half-brothers, even though they technically are. Chester was five years old when she moved to Los Angeles, and Truman was just born at the time, so neither of them recall a moment in their lives when she wasn’t living with them. Essentially, they’re more like a group or gang.

Although E.A cherishes times with her dad and Rita, she openly discusses the challenges she faced during her upbringing due to her mother who passed away from bone cancer at age 49 in 2002. In her memoir, she shares her account of the abuse she claims her mother, Susan, inflicted on her following their divorce in 1985.

According to E.A.’s account, during the period when Susan held primary custody, she unexpectedly relocated herself and Colin from Los Angeles to Sacramento. She described her 5 to 14-year stay in the city as a mix of confusion, violence, hardship, and love.

Over time, the backyard accumulated an overwhelming amount of dog waste to the point where it was challenging to move around, as she recounted about her old residence in a quote from People magazine. The refrigerator was either empty or filled with spoiled food more frequently than not, and her mother spent increasing amounts of time in her large four-poster bed, engrossed in the Bible. One evening, her emotional aggression escalated into physical violence.

However, she found solace in Colin, who helped “take care” of her after the mistreatment. 

She explained, “When you reminisce about shared experiences, such as our growing-up years, it creates an emotional connection that’s challenging to put into words. Maintaining this bond is effortless, and it has been particularly effective in filling a void in my sense of attachment elsewhere.

Keep reading to learn more about the Hanks’ blended family tree…

Over time, the backyard accumulated so much dog waste that it was difficult to navigate, as she recounted about her old residence in an excerpt from People. “The refrigerator was either empty or filled with spoiled food more than usual, and my mother spent an increasing amount of time in her large four-poster bed, immersed in the Bible. One evening, her emotional abuse turned into physical violence.

However, she found solace in Colin, who helped “take care” of her after the mistreatment. 

She went on to say, “When we reminisce about our shared past, such as our childhood, there’s a unique connection that’s difficult to put into words. It’s something that’s simple to keep strong and has filled the void of emotional detachment I felt elsewhere.

Keep reading to learn more about the Hanks’ blended family tree…

Although Tom Hanks is widely recognized as an Academy Award-winning actor, his four children – Colin Hanks, E.A. Hanks, Chet Hanks, and Truman Hanks – see him primarily as their dad. In an interview with The New York Times in 2019, the Forrest Gump star shared that his role as a parent is to express love, assure them they can’t hurt his feelings, ask for forgiveness when needed, and be there to help them whenever they need him. Essentially, he aims to offer unconditional love and protection.

Moreover, Tom values the privacy of his children, ensuring that their personal lives remain separate from his public persona. In a 2020 interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, he mentioned that it was important for him to distinguish between his public and private responsibilities. He made sure to shield his children’s upbringing from the spotlight as they were growing up.

Prior to Tom’s marriage to Rita, he encountered Susan Dillingham (known for minor roles as Samantha Lewes) when they were both students at Sacramento State. The couple already had a son named Colin, born in 1977, before their wedding in 1980. They later welcomed a daughter, E.A., whose initials stand for Elizabeth Ann, in 1982. However, the marriage ended three years later. Tom described this period as extremely painful, filled with negative emotions and feelings of self-loathing. He recalled these feelings vividly on an episode of In Depth With Graham Bensinger in 2020, stating, “It was a horribly painful time, fraught with emotion and bad feelings and the failures that you go, ‘Oh, I couldn’t be a worse father, and I couldn’t be a worse human being.'” He sought therapy and leaned on trusted individuals during this difficult period. He explained, “Sometimes it’s a priest at the church that you trust. Sometimes, it’s a really good friend.” Tom added, “I’ve had versions of all those things that have been the type of people that have said, ‘You know, you’re not a horrible person, and this will pass. You just gotta have a little bit of faith and goodness that is inside yourself.'” Susan passed away in 2002 following a fight against cancer.

Tom and Rita first crossed paths in 1981 when she guest-starred on his television show “Bosom Buddies,” leading to their later collaboration in the 1985 film “Volunteers.” As Tom recounted to GQ (via People), their connection on “Volunteers” was instant, with him declaring, “Kaboing!” Their relationship deepened, and they eventually tied the knot in 1988. Over the years, not only have they been partners in life, but also in their professional endeavors, appearing together in films such as “That Thing You Do!” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” and producing movies like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “A Man Called Otto.”

Throughout the highs and lows of life, including Rita’s 2015 battle with breast cancer, Tom has stood by her side. Reflecting on their enduring love in a 2019 interview with Access Hollywood, Rita said, “I think any long-term relationship requires both partners to work at keeping the spark alive and the flame burning.” She went on to explain that while there will be ups and downs, it’s essential for couples who have found love and ignited a spark to acknowledge their responsibility in maintaining it.

As the eldest son of Tom Hanks, who was once married to Susan, I found myself captivated by acting at a young age, much like my father. To be candid, it was the sheer joy of it that drew me in. Acting was the activity that I gravitated towards most, and when there was no pressure on me to appreciate it, that’s when I enjoyed it the most.

However, there was a phase where I distanced myself from acting due to people constantly suggesting it was my destiny given my famous father. Yet, it was my dad’s words of guidance that steered me back onto this path. He wisely advised, “You must truly desire this. If you don’t genuinely want this, then come up with something else, because you will be unhappy if acting is not something you are deeply passionate about.” This advice came at the most opportune moment.

Since then, I have had the privilege of starring in numerous movies and television shows, such as ‘Life in Pieces’, ‘Roswell’, ‘Orange County’, ‘King Kong’, ‘The House Bunny’, ‘Untraceable’. I’ve also lent my voice to animated projects like ‘Talking Tom and Friends’.

Currently, I am blessed with a loving wife named Samantha Bryant, and we are parents to two beautiful daughters, Olivia and Charlotte.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share my admiration for E.A. Hanks, Tom’s only daughter from his past marriage with Susan. While her siblings seemed destined for filmmaking, E.A. chose a different path – writing.

Once a contributor to prestigious outlets like Vanity Fair, TIME, The Guardian, and The New York Times, she has now stepped into the realm of authorship. Her book, “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,” is set to release on April 8, 2025.

According to Simon & Schuster’s description, this book chronicles E.A.’s journey as she retraces a past road trip with her mother in an effort to comprehend the intricate woman who brought her into existence.

In an excerpt shared by People, E.A. recalls the tumultuous period following her parents’ separation when Susan was granted custody of her and her brother Colin, while Tom saw them on weekends. However, one day, without warning, they had been moved from L.A. to Sacramento. As she put it, “My dad came to pick us up from school and we’re not there. And it turns out we hadn’t been there for two weeks, and he had to track us down.”

In the book, E.A. also recounts her challenging life with Susan, describing their backyard as full of dog waste, the house reeking of smoke, and the fridge either bare or filled with expired food. She poignantly writes, “One night, her emotional violence became physical violence, and in the aftermath, I moved to Los Angeles, right smack in the middle of the seventh grade.

Born in August 1990, Chet Hanks is the eldest son of Tom and Rita, who have passed on their love for acting to him. Over the years, he has showcased his acting skills in various TV series like “Running Point,” “Your Honor,” “Empire,” and “Shameless,” as well as movies such as “Dead Wrong,” “Fantastic Four,” and films featuring his father like “Larry Crowne” and “Greyhound.”

Chet also shares his mother’s love for music. Apart from releasing a few rap tracks, he is part of the country music duo “Something Out West.” In March 2025, they released a “Forrest Gump”-themed music video for their song “You Better Run,” featuring Tom.

In 2024, Chet was a cast member on the reality show “The Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets,” and has made headlines for some questionable moments, such as his use of a Jamaican Patois accent at the 2020 Golden Globes and coining the term “white boy summer” in 2021.

More recently, Chet has been concentrating on his work, family (he has a daughter named Michaiah with ex Tiffany Miles), and maintaining his sobriety. He is grateful for the unwavering support he receives from his parents throughout his journey. As he stated on a March 2025 episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” they have always been incredibly supportive, and he does not take this for granted, as he is now three years sober.

Born in December 1995, Truman Hanks is the youngest member of the Hanks family. Just like his older siblings, he’s choosing to follow in the footsteps of his parents Tom and Rita, both renowned figures in the movie industry. However, unlike them, Truman seems to prefer being on the technical side, specifically with cameras.

As per Tom Hanks, who spoke about this on a 2023 episode of SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show, “Truman has been working with cameras and lenses since high school, even developing his own films. He’s a member of the camera union here in New York (Local 600), and he’s already worked on films in the camera department. In fact, he’s shot his own projects too, serving as both cinematographer and director of photography.”

Truman has also ventured into acting, playing a young version of Tom’s character in the 2022 film A Man Called Otto. “His unique trait,” noted Tom, “is that we look almost identical at the age of 26.”

Besides his film work, Truman is also a mathematics major, having graduated from Stanford University.

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2025-04-08 21:19